Filed: Monday, 18th March 2013By: Staff Writer

A naturally disappointed Sam Allardyce slammed referee Michael Oliver for ruling out what appeared to be a perfectly legitimate 'goal' by Andy Carroll.

Carroll appeared to have scored an equaliser just three minutes after Chelsea had taken the lead in yesterday's Premier League London derby at Stamford Bridge, when he bundled the ball over the line having shaken off the attention of defender David Luiz.

However Luiz's theatrical fall was enough to convince match official Oliver that a foul has been committed, resulting in the strike being chalked off and a free kick given to the home side - something that infuriated Allardyce.

"I thought the free kick on [David] Luiz was a soft one, when Andy scored," said Allardyce. "If that had happened outside the box I think the referee would have waved play on.

"But losing at Stamford Bridge is not going to define our season, and it wasn't so long ago we were celebrating beating Chelsea. Beating them once in a season is enough, beating them twice is getting a bit greedy."

It was the second time this season that Allardyce was left to question the validity of a referee's decision against Chelsea this season after Kevin Nolan saw an effort ruled out in the corresponding fixture at the Boleyn Ground back in December.

However he admitted that even if the goal had been allowed to stand, his team were very much second-best on the day.

"Sometimes you come to places like this and you have to hope their top players are not quite 'on song', but today young [Eden] Hazard made life extremely difficult for us all the way through," he continued.

"The quality of the players in that area - [Juan] Mata as well, with the support of Frank Lampard - was too much for us on the day, as hard as we tried.

"We had a couple of chances and when you get them at Stamford Bridge, you've got to try and put them in the net. We didn't do that and we've suffered for it in the end. They deserved to win, they were better on the day and we have to accept that."

Allardyce also has a special word of praise for the revitalised Jussi Jaaskelainen, who made a string of fine saves during the game. "Most of the time, particularly at home, he hasn't had a lot to do this season," said Allardyce. "But when we needed him, he's kept us in the game."

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